Camp Run A Mutt

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August 25, 2015

Karen and Alishna Posner Styling Out North County Pups

Article Gina McGalliard | Photography Provided

My name is Max and I am a 3-year-old Puggle. I am a 3-year veteran of Camp Run-a-Mutt, and am excited to share my experiences at doggie daycare with you. First of all, I should explain that I am one of those dogs that has separation anxiety and does not like to be left alone! This was apparent early in my puppyhood and let me tell you a howling Puggle is not an experience for the faint of heart. My mom conducted an exhaustive search of the doggie daycare options in San Diego. It took three tries before she found Camp Run-a-Mutt. I love to hang there with my best bud Luther!

The best part of camp, according to my mom, is that I am so happy and tired when I get home. Apparently, humans sometimes need a break from us dogs … So if you are looking for a doggie daycare, I highly recommend Camp Run-a-Mutt.

Choosing a facility to care for your pet is an important decision, but Del Mar residents don’t need to look any further than Camp Run-a-Mutt, owned by cousins Karen and Alisha Posner.

Camp Run-a-Mutt provides cage-free day care and overnight boarding to dogs of all breeds and sizes. Your canine friend will enjoy luxury amenities: more than 15,000 square feet of play area that includes bridges and ramps, a splash pond to cool down when the weather gets warm, and even a bubble machine. For overnight stays, dogs stay in a large playroom and can even watch television. A human always spends the night with the dogs, and everyone sleeps together, pack-style, after a day of playing together.

“We actually treat them like they’re our own dogs,” says Karen. “We sleep next to them at night. The first time that a dog comes to camp, they take a temperament test. We take them into a small yard, let them sniff around and get comfortable, then we’ll slowly introduce one dog at a time until there are about five or six dogs in the yard. We’re looking for any aggressive behavior or extreme timidness, and if we don’t see any sign, we test them in our larger yard to see how they do with different types of dogs, big and small. I think that the test is very important because we want a safe environment for our dogs.”

Another aspect of Camp Run-a-Mutt is the Muttcams, which enable dog owners to see their dog in real time online. The facility also includes an event space that is rented out for obedience classes, done in partnership with Pawtopia. Recent Meetups have included English bulldogs, doodles and huskies. The Posners also hope to open a doggie boutique and hire a groomer in the future.